The pace of change in the world of business software has been moving ever so slowly, inexorably, and sometimes haltingly… into the cloud.  But recently, the pace appears to have accelerated considerably.

Anecdotally for one, we’ve seen clients formerly reluctant to shift their software from a local, tangible, close-to-home server now specfically focused on moving to an off-site (i.e., cloud) provider.  The fear over migrating is diminishing quickly, perhaps never more so than with the continued news of Microsoft’s phenomenal success with its Azure cloud environment, where cloud adoption is skyrocketing by the quarter (and propelling huge gains in Microsoft’s stock, we might add).

IDG notes that 77% of companies now have at least one application in the cloud.  30% of all IT budgets are allocated to the cloud this year.  Manufacturers are experience among the greatest pressure to move there quickly (along with the tech and utilities industries), according to Forbes.  IDG notes that 49% of its surveyed firms are either currently migrating to the cloud or plan to in the next 12 months.

It’s worth noting that “cost cutting” tops the list of reasons for cloud adoption, according to a survey of 166 firms by Datometry (“new capabilities” ranked second).

Here are some of the top reasons provided by PrintVis, a server and cloud based provider of business management software to the print and packaging industry:

1. Cost: Most companies fall in the SMB (small to midsize) category, where paying via monthly subscription per user eliminates a lot of upfront costs and keeps TCO lower.

2. Flexibility: Subscriptions plans allow you to implement at your own pace, adding users and training as you go.

3. Security: Automatic backup to the cloud (e.g., Microsoft Azure) means your system and data are backed up and secured.  Setting user permissions at an individual level ensures your data is available even after a hard drive crash.  Azure is noted for its security, and it encrypts your data for added protection.

4. Support: Let the cloud handle your IT and infrastructure, giving you more time to focus on your business, analyzing and reporting on results, and taking meaningful action.

5. Mobility: You can work from anywhere, including tablets, phones and home PCs, while remaining connected and secure.  Real-time production data can be captured and accessed from any mobile device at any location, anytime.

The move is very much… on.

PSSI has been implementing ALERE manufacturing software for over 25 years, and we still think it’s one of the best-priced, best-functioning software products you can buy anywhere.  Users appreciate ALERE’s flexibility over many other systems. 

TIW President Rod Hatcher reminds us of a few simple, useful tips that users should know.  Like…

• A unique aspect of ALERE is the ability to configure products to meet customer preferences. A single bill of material can be used to support hundreds of permutations of an item. This significantly reduces engineering time, inventory mistakes, and smooths the sales process.  So, in the upcoming ALERE v15.0 a new report, called Configuration Usage, has been introduced.  This report is designed to provide you with information on how many ways an item was configured, the numbers built, and what features and options were chosen by customers. Use it to nalyze choices customers make, manage inventory levels, guide product development, suggest new features and options, even set marketing priorities.  Combine the Configuration Usage report with the existing Option Usage report to reach a fuller understanding of product trends.

• The humble Done button. This dual use button is used for closing fully completed orders as well closing orders which are partially complete but whose lifecycle has reached its end, which would usually require some fiscal or inventory related gymnastics to accomplish.  However, ALERE was built with a focus on day to day usability by real world organizations where these situations present themselves.  The Done button is available on all sales module and purchase order documents, service tickets and work orders.  When a sales order is manually marked done, ALERE prompts the user to deallocate all the remaining inventory on the sales order which has not yet been shipped and invoiced. For a sales invoice, ALERE will prompt the user to write off any remaining balance to a variance account, allowing users to easily close under invoices and track the variance.  For work orders, ALERE will prompt the user to either post the finished good quantity to inventory, and return unused material to stock, or post an XQ transaction to reduce the in-process quantity to zero.

• Forget (or need to change) a password?  If you have access to all the user login information this is a quick and easy job. Go to File > Maintenance > Login Options and look up the user record.  Check the box on the Reset to Blank option and save the record. The next time the user starts ALERE they will receive a message that their password has expired and they will need to enter a new one. This little trick can also be used if someone simply wants to change their password.

Want to Learn More About ALERE?

TIW has a 7 minute “Manufacturing Overview Video“ on YouTube that gives a nice overview of what manufacturing software can do for you.  Click the link above to see why ALERE may be a great fit for your manufacturing operations.

To learn more, call us any time at 877.273.2444, or visit us on the web.